Zack Snyder is directing a new sci-fi fantasy film at Netflix, and he will be reuniting with Jena Malone (who appeared in Sucker Punch and BvS Ultimate Edition) AND Ray Fisher. Here are some of the plot details:
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Sofia Boutella is leading the ensemble in the story of a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy that is threatened by the armies of a tyrannical regent named Belisarius. Desperate, the colonists dispatch a young woman with a mysterious past to seek out warriors from neighboring planets to help them make a stand.
Character details are about as easy to find as an honest galactic mercenary, but sources say Hounsou is playing a character named General Titus (good/bad guy status unknown), Bae [Doona] is a nemesis who is proficient with a sword, while Fisher is a resistance fighter named Blood Axe.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/rebel-moon-charlie-hunnam-ray-fisher-zack-snyder-1235089664/
I'm very happy to see Fisher getting another big break, and playing a character called "Blood Axe". Sounds heavy metal. \m/
Joss Whedon must be very triggered right now.
Snyder has uploaded some concept art for his new project. The first picture was posted awhile ago, and the other three pictures were posted today.
(https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/wp-content/webp-express/webp-images/uploads/2022/01/rebel-moon-concept-art.jpg.webp)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLLT9JYVkAE-jlo?format=jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLLT9JZVEAIWKfh?format=jpg)
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https://twitter.com/ZackSnyder/status/1491502168003784708?cxt=HHwWiMC5mbnU8LIpAAAA
More casting additions announced, including Cary Elwes, Corey Stoll aka Yellowjacket from Ant-Man and Alfonso Herrera from Ozark.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/zack-snyder-rebel-moon-cary-elwes-corey-stoll-1235127383/
Good to see Elwes back in the limelight again. Maybe he'll be playing Charlie Hunnam's father, as both actors share some resemblance.
Here is a first look picture at Djimon Hounsou as General Titus. Very menacing.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQvemUAVEAUvIDO?format=jpg&name=large)
Anthony Hopkins has joined the cast of Rebel Moon and will voice Jimmy, a battle robot who fought for a murdered king. Very bizarre, I like it!
https://deadline.com/2022/06/anthony-hopkins-joins-rebel-moon-zack-snyders-netflix-sci-fi-epic-1235039960/
Snyder apparently shared a first look at Jimmy on Twitter.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FUv69NUVEAIS4ku?format=jpg)
https://twitter.com/ZackSnyder/status/1534596419398402048/photo/1
I am interested in seeing a trailer for this.
I have read that Ray Porter, aka Darkseid from ZSJL, has joined the cast of Rebel Moon. 8)
Meanwhile, a few scenes from the film was released in the trailer Netflix's 2023 film slate. On the 02:04 mark, it's revealed Part 1 is coming out on December 22nd. Very long wait.
https://youtu.be/brTcuO49G4I
Charlie Hunnam wearing that green hood is perhaps the closest thing we'll ever see him as Green Arrow. I remember a fan on Vero kept asking Snyder if he would cast in his DC universe, so I guess he got his wish, haha.
Here are some behind the scenes footage, cast photos and the first official poster.
https://youtu.be/7nc4TDtogcs
(https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/Rebel-Moon-ht-gmh-230606_1686064696295_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg)
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(https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2023/06/empaug23-newsstand-cover-rm.jpg)
(https://images.bauerhosting.com/empire/2023/06/empaug23-subs-cover-rmj.jpg)
The first teaser trailer is coming this week. Meanwhile, this banner social media photo has been released.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_banners/1493302921781395458/1692388302/1500x500)
The first trailer has been released, with dates for Parts 1 and 2 confirmed.
https://youtu.be/_rHLOXbFZtI
A gaming company is suing Netflix for unlawfully terminating a contract to develop game for Rebel Moon, accusing the company of stealing ideas to build the franchise.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/gamemaker-accuses-netflix-stealing-ideas-rebel-moon-franchise-1235603686/
I read the Parts 1 and 2 were already filmed before this tabletop game came to fruition, and it's important to note that Netflix is getting sued, not Zack Snyder. But honestly, this is honestly a big setback for Snyder. After dealing with studio corruption in WB, he's now caught in the middle of this turmoil at Netflix. Looking back, it has been years since the Army of the Dead anime series and another anime project with Jay Oliva has been announced without much progress made. Something tells me this Netflix relationship isn't all that rosy as I thought.
WB, Netflix...all these companies that are members of the AMPTP are such bastards.
Comic book tie-ins for Rebel Moon are coming out in January next year.
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https://twitter.com/ZackSnyder/status/1715382373024440451
Part One: A Child of Fire is coming out next month, here is the trailer:
https://youtu.be/fhr3MzT6exg
Part One - A Child of Fire is now going to be released a day earlier than planned: December 21st.
Netflix has really been pushing on the marketing and merchandise on Rebel Moon. I don't think I've seen this investment on an original property since Stranger Things. Here's hoping Part One kicks off well and lives up to the hype.
Part One: A Child of Fire got negative reviews from critics, and many couldn't help but reveal they have a petty axe to grind by taking personal jabs. You know, the usual personal snide remarks at Snyder and the "sNyDeR cUlTisTs". Unprofessional and childish drivel that comes across as they're less interested in reviewing the film itself and more invested in projecting villainous behaviour onto others. Quite frankly, anyone who says people should be punched in the face for making a movie, like that POS Editor-in-chief at Rotten Tomatoes once said about BvS, doesn't get to cry about fandom "toxicity".
https://youtu.be/LkkMzqmua9w
Rotten Tomatoes did get under heavy scrutiny months ago for manipulating reviews (big surprise ::)), but even if I disregard that, I'm looking forward to seeing Part One in a few days and judging it for myself. I'll talk about what I liked and didn't like.
I watched Part One: A Child of Fire.
It's fine. Not the greatest space fantasy ever made and the plot is derivative at times, but it's still a decent viewing experience for two hours and it has some surprising plot twists. It's your usual against-all-odds story about a small team of warriors fighting back against dictators who terrorised and threatened to pillage a small farming world. Aside from one or two shots, it's a beautifully shot film with top-notch CGI. I appreciate the film doesn't go for cheap laughs and plays it earnestly like most films nowadays.
Kora is the most important character in this film, as we see her as a quiet farmer with a troubled past who was once a soldier for the Imperium. After Atticus Noble's presence was more than felt, the guilt and fear for her fellow farmers brought her on a quest to fight back. Sofia Boutella does a fine job in the role and the action choreography on her part is well done.
Although I don't think the film is anywhere near as bad as the critics make it out to be, there are legitimate criticisms for Part One. The biggest issue is like many other Snyder films, this film was truncated as a theatrical cut of sorts, and the full director's cut that tells the complete narrative is coming next year after Part Two: The Scargiver. This means some characters like Nemesis are thrown into the film just for the sake of making up the numbers, leaving their arc very forced and unexplored. This cut relies on exposition to introduce characters like General Titus and Tarak, which is fine and all, but other characters like Jimmy the robot are made to advertise the next film. We'll see how the director's cut turns out to be superior, like Watchmen and BvS.
Like I said, it's fine. Some parts could've been better, some parts are exceptionally well done.
I rewatched Part One. It flows better than my first time viewing, but it's very heavy on exposition. I got a better sense that Gunnar's farming interests indirectly had a hand in Veldt getting in trouble with Atticus Noble and co, and the plot ties up together with economic conflict as well as the war conflict between the insurgents led by the Bloodaxes and the Imperium. I hope the director's cut adds more meat to the story and doesn't simply rely on R-rated gore for the sake of it.
A teaser trailer for Part Two - The Scargiver has been released.
https://youtu.be/Cf16jEmvJUY
https://youtu.be/UEJuNHOd8Dw
I saw Part Two - The Scargiver last week. It's just fine, the first hour is really about everyone preparing for war at the farm in Veldt before Noble returns to wreck havoc throughout the second half. The highlights of the film were the scenes of the main characters were having a last supper-type of moment sharing their tragic stories caused by the Imperium and some of the sacrifices deep in the second half. The film is pretty choppy though; Jimmy once again is very short-changed as a character. Probably the most out of all of them.
The sooner these director's cuts come out, the better. As it stands now, I think I prefer the ArmyVerse better. The writing was tighter, the editing was smoother and everything simply flowed better. So far, Netflix appears to be very happy with the strategy they enforced with the views that Rebel Moon is getting so far, but you still prefer to see the complete version of a film instead of a choppy one. It sucks that Snyder has this reputation of being THE director's cut director thanks to studio politics.